Canterbury District Health Board and West Coast District Health Board Chief Executive David Meates has resigned.

His last day will be 4 September 2020. 

He became Chief Executive of Canterbury DHB in February 2009 and took over responsibility for the West Coast DHB as Chief Executive in July 2010.

Board Chair, Sir John Hansen has thanked David for his contribution and commitment to Canterbury and the West Coast and acknowledged his many achievements including the development of the highly regarded and internationally recognised integrated health system in Canterbury.

“David is a resourceful and innovative leader who has given many years’ service to the people of Canterbury and the West Coast.  It is hard to imagine any other organisation in New Zealand that has had to contend with the challenges and complexities that have been managed by this DHB.”

 “Among his many achievements, he led the Canterbury Health System response through some of the biggest and most challenging events New Zealand has ever faced – the Christchurch and Kaikoura earthquakes and the terrorist attacks in March 2019.  David’s leadership during, and following these extraordinary events was exemplary.”

“David’s legacy includes modern state-of-the-art health facilities at Te Nikau in Greymouth, the Kaikoura Health Centre, Burwood Hospital, Christchurch Hospital Hagley, Akaroa, Rangiora, Ashburton, state of the art digital platforms and analytics, and the Health Precinct.”

David Meates says “my time with Canterbury and the West Coast has been so incredibly rewarding.”

“DHBs are some of the largest and most complex businesses in New Zealand and I have been really fortunate to work with some of the most gifted and talented teams, both in Canterbury and on the West Coast”

“The care provided by clinical and support teams, both in our hospitals and in primary and community care, has been exemplary in spite of them working in environments that in many cases have been and remain challenging.”

“If I was to be sick anywhere in the world, I would want to be cared for here.”

The news follows the resignation of Chief People Officer Michael Frampton, and Carolyn Gullery, Executive Director Planning, Funding & Decision Support.